Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Tavio’s speech at the opening ceremony of the Shelter Coalition in Kyiv

Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio spoke at the opening ceremony of the Shelter Coalition in Kyiv on 27 November 2025.

Madam Prime Minister of Ukraine,

Honorable Ministers and Deputy Ministers,

Leadership of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine,

Excellencies,

It is a pleasure to stand here and represent Finland in the Inaugural meeting of the Shelter Coalition for Ukraine, established in May by the Prime Ministers of Ukraine and Finland.

I would like to start by once again conveying thank you from the Government of Finland for requesting Finland to join hands with Ukraine in developing the shelter network and construction in Ukraine.

I would also like to recognize the leadership of our both Presidents giving this important topic the needed attention in their speeches and meetings.

Russia’s war of aggression has targeted civilian infrastructure in Ukraine, resulting in the death and injury of civilians, including children. After Russia’s continued cowardly acts towards civilian population, President Zelenskyy has called for equal access for all people to shelters. It is the provision of the state and governments at all levels to provide basic security and safety for all citizens. The equal access can be widened to cover also the special needs of women and children and persons with special needs.

Dear Coalition Members and future members,

We have come together to promote substantial action for constructing civil protection shelters in line with the national strategic objectives of Ukraine that aims to build a nation-wide shelter system. The main purpose is to respond to Ukraine’s needs in the short and long term. The Coalition brings together our different strengths and capacities: financial and material support as well as technical expertise.

At the same time, we recognize that plenty has been done and is being done by the Governmental entities, local governments and cities, international community, civil society and private sector. The Coalition provides a platform to share information and lessons learned, build knowledge and coordinate the actions.

The Coalition is a mutual partnership. Ukraine is paying the ultimate price for providing valuable lessons learned for all of us.

The civil protection strategy, approved by the cabinet of Ministers in early 2025, is commendable. That work paves a way for continued intergovernmental and cross-sectoral work which is needed to implement the strategy.

The strong commitment and ownership that the Government of Ukraine and the Ministry of Internal Affairs has demonstrated will guide us in the Coalition work.

In Finland, we have a globally recognized shelter system which has been built during the past 80 years. It was created due to the very same reason why we are here today: Neighbour who does not respect justice nor civilian life. In Finland we have the best shelter system for our people. It cannot be exactly copied, but it can provide wide guidance for others, such as understanding the shelter infrastructure as one of the key tools in the protection of civilians, importance of cross-sectoral cooperation, utilization of the private sector, and cost-effectiveness in building nation-wide shelter system.

Finland commits itself to the Coalition and to the role of co-chair with the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine. To reconfirm our commitment, in addition to our technical cooperation between the Ministry of the Interior of Finland and the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, I am announcing today Finland’s support of 11 million euros to the Coalition.

I would like to thank CPVA of Lithuania and Enabel of Belgium whose ongoing work enables the Coalition to extend the shelter construction work in the Education, Health and Critical Social Infrastructure in line with the priorities of the Ukraine Plan.

On this same note, I would like to thank the European Union and the international financing institutions for providing the financing channel for the Coalition, and also their expertise.

I would like to thank all partners that join the Coalition today or plan to do so in the future.

I wish all the best for the Coalition and for our international partnership for the safety of population. Thank you.